With colleagues and students, Dr. Richard Petrasso has coauthored over 300 peer-reviewed publications in plasma physics and high-energy-density science. His research focuses on utilizing nuclear reactions and their products to illuminate the fundamental physics of inertial confinement fusion and high-energy-density plasmas. These methods have been used to measure electric and magnetic fields, areal densities, implosion asymmetries, and other key plasma properties in systems ranging from reconnecting plasmas to indirectly driven implosions. Dr. Petrasso co-originated the High-Energy-Density Physics Division at the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center and served as its Head from 1995 to 2021.

PhD, Brandeis University, 1972

BS, Oregon State University,  1967

• Department of Energy Achievement Award, for work with National Ignition Facility (NIF) team on demonstration of Fusion Capsule Gain at the NIF, 2023
• John Dawson Award for Excellence in Plasma Physics Research,  for work with the National Ignition Facility  team for  first laboratory demonstration of a burning plasma where alpha heating dominates the  energetics,  APS 2022
• John Dawson Award for Excellence in Plasma Physics Research, for work on development and utilization of monoerergetic proton radiography of plasma experiments, 2017
• Edward Teller Medal, 2013. The Medal recognizes pioneering research and leadership in inertial fusion sciences and applications
• Fellow, American Physical Society, 2003